November 25 Monday 2002
Waugh, Hussain undecided on future of video umpiring

ADELAIDE: Australia captain Steve Waugh believes a radical new system where players can be recalled to the wicket could solve the controversy over dismissals by the video umpire.

Waugh said on Sunday he would prefer a return to the old days of cricket when batsmen simply accepted the word of the fielder on whether a catch had been taken or not rather than refer the matter to a third umpire.

But Waugh said the batsmen should have the chance to be recalled to the crease if the television replay showed the player was not out. "It's hard to know what the answer is," Waugh said.

"Perhaps they should go on what the fielder says and if it's obviously incorrect and the replay showed it then maybe they can call the batsman back and he can bat next or something."

The issue of television replays deciding close catches was raised during the second Ashes Test when England opener Michael Vaughan was given the benefit of the doubt to a low catch that Justin Langer claimed.

Langer insisted he had taken the ball cleanly but Vaughan stood his ground and was eventually let off because the replays were inconclusive. "Our side's done it a few times so we're certainly not blaming the batsman," Waugh said.

"(But) it's probably gone too far now and there's been so many decisions that batsmen know if it's a close call they can stand their ground." England skipper Nasser Hussain said he supported the principle of using television replays but was happy to let the on-field umpires decide if players were unsatisfied with the current set up.

"The whole point of technology was brought in to get it right but if people think they're not getting it right we might as well go back to the umpires," Hussain said.

"I'm a fan of technology because in general it limits the doubt and when you've got one chance out there as a batsman and it's really important to you and it's going to ruin your whole week if someone gets it wrong then I'd like somene to have another look. "But if it's not working then there's no point in it...let's scrap it and just go back to 
player honesty."